Written by Forrest Brown, CNN (Original Text)
Published on November 21, 2019
The 10 Most Famous Paintings in the World
Every year, artworks worth billions of dollars are auctioned at international auction houses, while leading museums have tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of artworks in their collections. But only a few ever achieve the fame required to truly be considered well-known names.
Since "famous" is a subjective term, CNN Style turned to Google to find out which paintings have topped search results worldwide over the past five years.
We compared dozens of popular masterpieces—from classics like the "Mona Lisa," "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," and the "Salvator Mundi" to more modern works like "Nighthawks" and even the "Dogs Playing Poker" series.
Based on these results, here are the 10 most searched paintings in the world:
10. 'Creation of Adam'
Artist: Michelangelo
Date: 1508 to 1512
Where to see it: Sistine Chapel (Vatican City)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Michelangelo, Creation of Adam
The most famous work of the renowned artist Michelangelo covers part of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—you have to look up to see it. The scene depicts God and Adam with outstretched arms, their fingers almost touching. It is one of the most copied images in history.
Adam's muscular figure hints at another of Michelangelo's talents—his "David" is probably the most famous sculpture in the world. You can visit the towering marble statue at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Did you know? The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel had become dulled over centuries due to candle smoke and much more. After a lengthy, comprehensive cleaning completed in 1989, people were shocked to see the bright, vivid colors Michelangelo originally used.
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9. 'Las Meninas'
Artist: Diego Velázquez
Date: 1656
Where to see it: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Las Meninas, Diego Velázquez
Madrid is the only city in this overview where two of the 10 most famous paintings can be found, namely "Guernica" at number 5 and "Las Meninas" at number 9.
"Las Meninas," located in the famous (and huge) Prado, is not only Diego Velázquez's most famous painting but also one of his greatest. The complexity of the work has fascinated art critics and audiences for centuries.
The painting serves a dual function as a portrait. It acts as a group portrait of the Spanish royal family, but it is also a self-portrait of Velázquez himself at work (left).
Did you know? "Las Meninas" was commissioned by King Philip IV of Spain, who reigned from 1621 to 1665. It remained in the royal palace until 1819 and then moved to the Prado.
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8. 'The Birth of Venus'
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Estimated Date: 1485
Where to see it: Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi (Florence, Italy)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Birth of Venus - original, Birth of Venus - vertical
The oldest painting in the top 10 and, along with "The Kiss," the most sensual, "The Birth of Venus" was likely commissioned by a member of the wealthy and art-loving Medici family, who ruled Florence and the surrounding areas for centuries.
By combining a renewed interest in classical Greek culture with the style of the Early Renaissance, Botticelli created an unforgettable figure of the goddess of love emerging from a giant seashell.
Did you know? Botticelli's "Venus" differs in two ways from most other works of his contemporaries. First, he painted on canvas instead of the more popular wood. Second, nudity was rare at the time—so it was daring that Venus is completely nude, except for her long flowing hair and a hand that (just barely) covers her most intimate parts.
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7. 'Girl With a Pearl Earring'
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Estimated Date: 1665
Where to see it: Mauritshuis (The Hague, Netherlands)
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This captivating favorite is often compared to the "Mona Lisa." Aside from stylistic differences, the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is technically not even a portrait but a "tronie"—a Dutch term for a painting of an imaginary figure with exaggerated facial features.
The oil on canvas masterpiece is brilliant in its simplicity. The girl, wearing a blue-gold turban and an oversized pearl earring, stands front and center, accompanied only by a dark background.
Did you know? While the Mauritshuis was renovated from 2012 to 2014, the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" toured the United States, Italy, and Japan. It was a crowd-puller, further cementing its status as one of the world's most famous artworks.
6. 'The Kiss'
Artist: Gustav Klimt
Estimated Date: 1908 to 1909
Where to see it: Upper Belvedere museum (Vienna, Austria)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
At number 6, we move from a study of hatred to a study of love with Gustav Klimt's beloved "The Kiss." From Klimt's "Golden Period," Byzantine art influences can be seen in the highly decorative garments of the passionate, life-sized couple.
The Upper Belvedere states that Klimt's "The Kiss" makes a "general allegorical statement about love as the core of human existence." Given the painting's magnetic appeal, there seems to be agreement.
Did you know? While "The Kiss" is unsellable, other works by Klimt have been bought and sold for huge sums. Oprah Winfrey sold the 1907 artwork "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II" in 2016 for $150 million—a profit of $60 million.
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5. 'Guernica'
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Date: 1937
Where to see it: Museo Reina Sofía (Madrid)
It is the youngest painting on this list and depicts the German bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
The painting has Picasso's unmistakable style, and its unflinching confrontation with the horrors of war made it an essential part of 20th-century culture and history.
Did you know? "Guernica" was brought to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York for safekeeping during World War II. Picasso requested an extension of its stay until democracy returned to Spain. In 1981, six years after the death of long-time Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco, it finally returned to Madrid.
4. 'The Scream'
Artist: Edvard Munch
Date: 1893
Where to see it: National Museum (Oslo, Norway -- opening in 2020) and Munch Museum (Oslo -- through May 2020)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Edvard Munch, The Scream
First things first: "The Scream" is not a single artwork. According to a British Museum blog, it consists of two paintings, two pastels, and an unspecified number of prints. The paintings are housed in the National Museum and the Munch Museum, and in 2012 one of the pastels was auctioned for nearly $120 million.
Similar to the "Mona Lisa," daring thefts (1994 and 2004) of the two painted versions of "The Scream" helped bring public attention to the artworks. (Both were eventually recovered).
Did you know? The androgynous figure in the foreground of the Art Nouveau painting is not screaming but rather trying to suppress a piercing scream from nature. The image was inspired by an experience Munch had during a walk in Oslo at sunset when a dramatic red hue overwhelmed his senses.
3. 'The Starry Night'
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1889
Where to see it: Museum of Modern Art (New York City)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Starry Night, Van Gogh
The comparatively abstract painting is a typical example of van Gogh's innovative and bold use of thick brushstrokes. The striking blues and yellows of the painting and the dreamy, swirling atmosphere have fascinated art lovers for decades.
Did you know? Van Gogh lived in an asylum in Saint-Rémy, France, where he was treated for a mental illness when he painted "The Starry Night." The view from his room's window inspired him.
2. 'The Last Supper'
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated Date: 1495 to 1498
Where to see it: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)
Leonardo, the original "Renaissance Man," is the only artist to appear twice on this list. Painted at a time when religious images were still a dominant artistic theme, "The Last Supper" depicts the last time Jesus broke bread with his disciples before his crucifixion. The painting is actually a huge fresco—4.6 meters high and 8.8 meters wide—that offers an unforgettable sight.
Did you know? The fresco has survived two wartime threats: Napoleon's troops used the refectory wall on which the fresco was painted for target practice. Also, it was exposed to the air for several years when bombings during World War II destroyed the roof of the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
1. 'Mona Lisa'
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated Date: 1503 to 1519
Where to see it: Louvre Museum (Paris)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci
It is probably no surprise that the most famous painting in the world is the mysterious woman with the enigmatic smile. But that is one of the few certainties about this artwork.
It is believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo, but experts are not sure. The painting is the first known Italian portrait where the subject is so precisely centered in a half-length portrait, according to the Louvre, where it was first exhibited in 1804.
Did you know? Before the 20th century, the "Mona Lisa" was hardly known outside the art world, according to historians. But in 1911, a former Louvre employee stole the portrait and hid it for two years. This theft helped the painting secure a permanent place in popular culture and introduced millions to Renaissance art.
Take a look at the classic artworks printed on canvas at ARTLIA. Your room will transform into a gallery.
